Prosecutors drop child rape charges against East Allen man

A former East Allen Township man was cleared Wednesday of charges he raped a boy for years after prosecutors said his accuser was emotionally unable to proceed in the case.

William E. Sarko, who has been in Northampton County Prison since his arrest in January, saw all charges withdrawn by Assistant District Attorney Patricia Broscius, who said she is unable to prove them without the accuser's testimony.

Sarko, 40, could have faced years behind bars if convicted of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and other sex crimes. With the dismissal, Sarko was instead slated to be released Wednesday from jail, where he had been held under $250,000 bail.

Sarko, of Upper Saucon Township, was accused of sexually assaulting the boy in East Allen and Allentown from 2001 to 2012, beginning when the boy was 6, according to court records.

But at a hearing before Judge Michael Koury Jr., Broscius said the accuser is no longer willing to testify, and she has concluded his emotional state is so perilous that it would be detrimental to require it.

Broscius also noted that other witnesses have questioned the accuser's account and whether he "made it up," though she stopped short in court of saying she no longer believes his story.

"He presents as a very troubled young man at this point in time," Broscius said. "He's in desperate need of counseling. He's in desperate need of intervention."

In a letter Broscius read to Koury, the accuser said he was asking that the charges be dropped because he has been "torn apart" by the stress of having to face Sarko.

Sarko said nothing before Koury accepted the dismissal. Defense lawyer Mark Minotti said the defendant has always insisted he was falsely accused.

"My client has maintained his innocence since Day 1 and [was] prepared to go to trial," Minotti said.